After more than ten years of sustained growth, Chilean production of mussels (Mytilus chilensis) fell for the first time. In 2009, the harvest of mussels totaled 167 876 tonnes, a 16% drop compared with 2008. Chilean aquaculture of mussels had more than doubled its output from 80 558 tonnes in 2004 to a peak of 199 168 tonnes in 2008.
